Beyond The Sea DVD Reviews

Starring	Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, John Goodman, Bob Hoskins
Director	Kevin Spacey
Genres	Drama, Music/Musical

Critics' reviews (6) of Beyond The Sea
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This is very much a labour of love for Kevin Spacey, who, as well as taking the all-singing, all-dancing lead, co-wrote and directed this biopic of crooner Bobby Darin. Beyond the Sea charts the singer's astonishing life from an illness-ridden childhood (he was told he wouldn't survive adolescence) to his death at the tragically young age of 37, taking in Darin's recording triumphs, marriage to Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth), success in Vegas and Hollywood and a career-damaging flirtation with Vietnam-era protest songs. Spacey is outstanding as Darin, delivering a note-perfect re-creation of the singer's style and hoofing his way through the dance numbers with aplomb. But the film's structure — a strange blend of flashbacks and fantasy heavily influenced by Fellini's 8½, which makes it unclear as to whether Darin is actually dead — will prove too odd for some viewers.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Kevin Spacey spent much time and effort in trying to get this life of Bobby Darin made; for all his conviction, there's little evidence here that Darin's life was worth filming or that Spacey was the right person to play him.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Although it shares its title with Kevin Spacey's flashy Bobby Darin biopic, this harrowing doc won't send you from... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Beyond The Sea
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62 out of 70 people found this review helpful

Spacey Rocks!

Kevin Spacey's name above the film title is a guarantee of quality.This is a labour of love for him and he pulls it off beautifully.

I wanted to rush out and buy the entire Bobby Darin back catalogue when this film ended.
- - TheMovieman from Ramsbottom
  - Posted 24 Jun 2005 17:57
26 out of 28 people found this review helpful

Great Biopic

Spacey is a marvel. He turns acting into riveting reincarnation and redoubles our appreciation of Darin, an underrated performer who used music to cheat death. Beyond the Sea, a tribute to both their talents, is one from the heart.
- - Liam D from Norn Irn
  - Posted 31 Mar 2005 17:06
25 out of 31 people found this review helpful

Spacey is spectacular

I knew nothing of Bobbie Darin, but was transfixed to my screen when watching Spacey play this Role.

He was Awesome. I was really caught up in the portrail of this story of this Great Man and his life. my jaw dropped in him finding out personal stuff that had such a great effect on him in his latter Years, and cried at the end when it was all over. It was so moving well written, directed and produced. All I can say is....watch it, watch it, watch it!!!!!
- - simmyangel from suffolk
  - Posted 14 Apr 2005 15:51
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Beyond The Sea
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

More,More,More...........

As a 'bio-pic'I will not comment......

The 5 Stars are for Kevin Spacey as a 'Song and Dance' man. Just Amazing,Fabulous. I could easily sit through a couple of hours being entertained by him, ( he didn't need the 'baggage' that surrounded him )

What are they for??
- - A customer from Exeter. Devon.
  - Posted 17 Jul 2005 19:34
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

wow suprising

I hired this for my dad who is a big fan of bobby darin, I watched it afterwards and its fantastic!

Im not a big fan of musicals and this just shys away from it, a slow starter but is very engrossing and an amazing peformance from spacey.

This was more original and beter made than Ray in my opinion, and I think will appreciate as it gets older.
- - A customer from bournemouth
  - Posted 20 Jan 2006 02:39

62 out of 70 people found this review helpful

Spacey Rocks!

Kevin Spacey's name above the film title is a guarantee of quality.This is a labour of love for him and he pulls it off beautifully.

I wanted to rush out and buy the entire Bobby Darin back catalogue when this film ended.
- - TheMovieman from Ramsbottom
  - Posted 24 Jun 2005 17:57
26 out of 28 people found this review helpful

Great Biopic

Spacey is a marvel. He turns acting into riveting reincarnation and redoubles our appreciation of Darin, an underrated performer who used music to cheat death. Beyond the Sea, a tribute to both their talents, is one from the heart.
- - Liam D from Norn Irn
  - Posted 31 Mar 2005 17:06
25 out of 31 people found this review helpful

Spacey is spectacular

I knew nothing of Bobbie Darin, but was transfixed to my screen when watching Spacey play this Role.

He was Awesome. I was really caught up in the portrail of this story of this Great Man and his life. my jaw dropped in him finding out personal stuff that had such a great effect on him in his latter Years, and cried at the end when it was all over. It was so moving well written, directed and produced. All I can say is....watch it, watch it, watch it!!!!!
- - simmyangel from suffolk
  - Posted 14 Apr 2005 15:51
19 out of 20 people found this review helpful

Kevin Spacey in full swing!

A fantastic film, we all know what a great actor Kevin Spacey is but he excels here in this film. He really can sing and dance and almost everything else as well. Even if you have never heard of Bobby Darin, even if your not really into 'swing' big band sounds, the film holds it's own with a wonderful script, great sets and powerful production. My only negative comment and it is only trivial, we always moan about the Yanks with their dodgy English accents! Well Mr Hoskins New York style was just a bit 'ganster' for me.

Watch this film, fall in love with the 50/60's sound, I guarantee it will get your feet tapping. Well done Mr Spacey
- - Paul Williams from Leicester, England
  - Posted 29 Apr 2005 10:56
15 out of 18 people found this review helpful

Spacey at his best

I was completely and utterly surprised to see Kevin Spacey sing, dance, perform - to Broadway Standards.

The film tells the story of the life of Bobby Darin (whom I didn't particularly know before having seen the film) and it is being done in an unusual very arty way.

The film does its job very well, but the best in it are the performances. Breathtaking - I highly recommend watching it.
- - Arianna from West sussex
  - Posted 13 Dec 2004 13:19
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Stick with it

I was looking forward to a straightforward biopic and was initially surprised and dare I say, disappointed with the early surreal David Lynch meets Rodgers and Hammerstein scenes. However, having stuck with it I began to get more into the story as the film progressed.

By the end I really warmed to the character and ended up wanting to find out more about Bobby Darin. I have since discovered that the film was extremely accurate in many aspects including the canary yellow suit Darin wore during his initial encounter with Sandra Dee (who sadly died in February of this year).

Kevin Spacey was remarkable and had the mannerisms and look off to a T (why hasn’t he appeared on Stars in Their Eyes??...just joking), although he did look a little too old for the early scenes, as Darin was supposed to be a teenager when he met Dee (apparently). I have always been a distant fan of Darin’s musical standards and found his obsession with trying to compete with Sinatra interesting.

My own opinion is that Sinatra was vastly over-rated and only got where he was by being connected. Darin on the other hand was a far more accomplished all rounder and could wipe the floor with ol’ blue eyes any day. You had no need to be concerned Bobby!
- - Meerkat from Lothian
  - Posted 11 Jul 2005 19:03
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Brilliant

Spacey stars in an amazing story of Bobby Darin's life, and boy is he good, fantastic siging and dancing. although not to everyone's taste i liked the changing stories, they made for amazing watching!
- - A customer from Glasgow, Scotland
  - Posted 07 Jun 2005 15:29
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

A good one.

The life and times of Boddy Darin, a singer who I did not know the name of but I certainly knew his songs. The mix of bio-pic and swinging musical ("It's a fantasy sequence, of course it didn't happen like that.") worked for me. Being the story of someones life the ending should not come as a suprise but it still managed to bring a tear to my eye. Enjoy
- - Mags Mags
  - Posted 26 Jun 2005 13:56
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Brilliant

What a shock to see such a great film. Rented it after reading good reviews and I am so glad I did. A fantastic performance by Kevin Spacey.

Rent it you'll love it, I did. What a treat!!
- - julie07 from Lancs
  - Posted 19 Apr 2005 14:10
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Spacey magic

Mr Spacey was superb in this great movie. His singing and dancing really surprised me, well woth watching
- - Simon and Juliette Gilbert from Bognor regis
  - Posted 16 Jul 2005 08:56

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Critics' reviews (6)
This is very much a labour of love for Kevin Spacey, who, as well as taking the all-singing, all-dancing lead, co-wrote and directed this biopic of crooner Bobby Darin. Beyond the Sea charts the singer's astonishing life from an illness-ridden childhood (he was told he wouldn't survive adolescence) to his death at the tragically young age of 37, taking in Darin's recording triumphs, marriage to Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth), success in Vegas and Hollywood and a career-damaging flirtation with Vietnam-era protest songs. Spacey is outstanding as Darin, delivering a note-perfect re-creation of the singer's style and hoofing his way through the dance numbers with aplomb. But the film's structure — a strange blend of flashbacks and fantasy heavily influenced by Fellini's 8½, which makes it unclear as to whether Darin is actually dead — will prove too odd for some viewers.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Kevin Spacey spent much time and effort in trying to get this life of Bobby Darin made; for all his conviction, there's little evidence here that Darin's life was worth filming or that Spacey was the right person to play him.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Although it shares its title with Kevin Spacey's flashy Bobby Darin biopic, this harrowing doc won't send you from... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
One of the best films of the year
- The News Of The World
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A real treat
- The Sun
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A wow
- Empire
- Posted 29 Jan 2006